House GOP leader change of mind improves chance for medical marijuana in Illinois

Saturday

Apr 30, 2011 at 12:01 AMApr 30, 2011 at 12:34 AM

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois House Republican leader Tom Cross’ change of heart could mean a change in the prospects for medical marijuana in Illinois.

ANDY BROWNFIELD

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois House Republican leader Tom Cross’ change of heart could mean a change in the prospects for medical marijuana in Illinois.

Cross, R-Oswego, had opposed the legislation in the past, but changed his mind after hearing from constituents and members of the medical community, spokeswoman Sara Wojcicki said.

Cross’ position does not represent that of the rest of the Republican caucus, she said. However, his backing of the idea could clear the way for Illinois to join 15 other states in legalizing medical marijuana.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, also has put new restrictions into his proposal, which would allow some people with debilitating diseases to use marijuana for medical purposes. Those limits also might draw some additional votes.

“With Mr. Cross’ support, and a lot of changes in the bill that make it a much stronger and tougher bill, I think we have a chance to get some more votes,” Lang said. “If we can get a handful more Republican votes, I can pass the bill.”

Lang introduced a measure in the previous General Assembly that fell four votes of House passage.

The new proposal, House Bill 30, would no longer allow patients to grow their own marijuana. It also would limit them to possessing 2.5 ounces of marijuana at any given time, restrict the number of marijuana dispensaries and reduce the number of diseases for which one could obtain marijuana.

The bill also states that patients could not drive for six hours after using marijuana, and employers and landlords would be able to impose any rules they want regarding marijuana use.

Dispensaries would have to pay hefty licensing fees and annual renewal would be required. The measure is designed so that the system would cost taxpayers nothing, Lang said.

“In short, it’s a very controlled, very simple piece of legislation that encourages people to have a better quality of life without being a burden on taxpayers or society,” Lang said.

Builds appetite

Among those who helped change Cross’ mind was Diane Harper of Shorewood.

In 2007, her husband, Jeff, had a massive heart attack requiring open-heart surgery. That wasn’t the worst news he received that day.

“When they opened him up, he was full of stage 4 lymphoma,” Diane said.

“All of a sudden, I went from being a heart patient to a cancer patient,” Jeff said.

While undergoing chemotherapy, Harper, now 55, he ate only soup and cereal, the only foods he could keep down. His weight dropped from 170 pounds to 111. What helped him build an appetite and regain weight — he’s now up to 149 pounds — was marijuana, the couple said.

“My husband used to be a union pipefitter, a big strapping guy,” Diane said. “All I wanted to do was to help him.”

Jeff Harper said he turned to marijuana after a year of trying different variations of prescription medication, to no avail.

“I laid in agony for that year — at times I wanted to die,” Jeff said in slow, halting speech. “But I have a family I need to take care of.”

The Harpers have two children, ages 22 and 15.

“Do you know how sickening it is to tell your kids something they’re not supposed to do is necessary to keep their dad alive?” Diane said. “We had to explain that this is civil disobedience.”

Opposition locally

Because of the tighter restrictions in Lang’s new bill, the Illinois State Police, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce have all dropped their opposition to the bill and are now neutral, Wojcicki said.

The bill is not without opposition.

“Chances are, I won’t be supporting it,” said Rep. Rich Brauer, R-Petersburg. “For my district, most people are against it.”

Brauer’s Springfield counterpart, Republican Rep. Raymond Poe, also said he opposes legal marijuana, unless it goes through a pharmacy instead of dispensaries.

Jacksonville Republican Rep. Jim Watson is also opposed to the bill.

“Everybody I’ve talked to and everything I’ve read and studied … it’s led to a plethora of other problems and other issues,” Watson said.

The Harpers, though, are holding out hope that the legislation will be signed into law.

“If this has ever happened to you, this is a club that nobody wants to join,” Diane Harper said. “It (House Bill 30) seems like such a simple solution to such a horrible problem.”

Andy Brownfield can be reached at (217) 782-3095.

Other states

California was the first state to allow medical use of marijuana in 1996. Four states -- Maine, Michigan, Montana and Rhode Island -- recognize patients from other states with prescriptions.

Rules by state (Illinois based on pending legislation)

State, Patient Registry, Allow Dispensaries, Specify Conditions

Alaska, Yes, No, Yes

Arizona, Yes, Yes, Yes

California, Yes, Yes, Yes

Colorado, Yes, Yes, Yes

Hawaii, Yes, No, Yes

Illinois, Yes, Yes, Yes

Maine, Yes, Yes, Yes

Michigan, No, Yes, Yes

Montana, Yes, No, Yes

Nevada, Yes, No, Yes

New Jersey, Yes, Yes, Yes

New Mexico, Yes, Yes, Yes

Oregon, Yes, No, Yes

Rhode Island, Yes, Yes, Yes

Vermont, Yes, Yes, Yes

Washington, No, No, Yes

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.